Flight Safety Information
May 30, 2013 - No. 108
In This Issue
Pilot, biologist killed in helicopter crash north of Fort McMurray
Military helicopter makes emergency landing near Medford, NJ school
Police pilot describes being blinded in cockpit
Helicopter crash survivor taken off promotion list
Annual SMS Audit Results Released
Free airport therapy has a cold nose, wagging tail
TSA finds record 65 weapons on U.S. airport passengers last week
Pilot, biologist killed in helicopter crash north of Fort McMurray
A pilot and provincial biologist were killed Wednesday in a helicopter crash north of Fort McMurray.
The helicopter carrying three people went down at about 11 a.m. in a remote area 130 kilometres north of the city.
RCMP were alerted to the incident around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday and flew to the scene. The male pilot and a
female passenger were declared dead at the scene, while a male passenger was airlifted to hospital in stable
condition, Wood Buffalo RCMP spokeswoman Const. Christina Wilkins said.
The two passengers both worked as biologists for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.
A source within the department identified the woman who died as Kristina Norstrom and the survivor as Simon
Slater. Both were doing work with Alberta's caribou population.
The source said department staff were informed Slater was sitting up and responsive in hospital.
The name of the pilot has not been released.
The downed aircraft belonged to Fort McMurray-based Wood Buffalo Helicopters, part of a company known as
Aurora Helicopters.
"At approximately 11 a.m., one of our helicopters was involved in an accident approximately 75 nautical miles
north of Fort McMurray. We have had confirmation that there have been two fatalities as a result of the accident,"
company president Michael Morin said in a statement to media. "We are deeply saddened by this event and feel the
loss greatly."
Morin said he would not release the names of those involved in the crash.
"The cause of the occurrence is under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board. Aurora Helicopters Ltd. will
be supporting that investigation in every way we can."
The company has been in business for more than 25 years doing a variety of jobs, including work for the oil and
gas sector, surveying, assisting with wildfire efforts, and offering tours of the region.
The company's website says it has a fleet of both light and intermediate helicopters - the Bell 206B JetRanger,
Eurocopter EC120B Colibri and Eurocopter As350-B2 Astar - equipped with Global Positioning System technology.
"This system is a major improvement in flight-monitoring, enhancing the safety of all on-board," the company's
website says. "Satellite tracking takes the 'search' out of search and rescue, allowing the quickest possible
response to any unwanted situation. Our flight-followers will be able to determine the most-recent position of any
of our aircraft within a few moments, giving you peace of mind."
The website says safety is the company's first priority.
The crash happened near Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park, northwest of Fort McMurray, said Paul Spring,
operations manager for Phoenix Heli-Flight.
"It's remote access only there," Spring said.
"There is a variety of activity in the area - oil exploration, timber harvesting, forest fire protection. It's not a
populated area, so it's tricky to get access to it."
Spring's company, which provides medevac services in the region, was called to assist in Wednesday's rescue
operation. The company used two helicopters to transport RCMP and medical crews to the scene.
Canadian Forces personnel also flew to the area to work with police.
"The TSB is aware and we are sending a team of investigators tomorrow morning (Thursday)," Transportation
Safety Board spokeswoman Julie Leroux said. She could not provide any further details about the crash, including
its precise location.
"I offer my deepest sympathies to the families involved in this tragic event," Premier Alison Redford said in a
statement late Wednesday. "The loss of a family member, co-worker or friend is truly one of life's biggest
challenges, and I hope that those close to the individuals find comfort in friends and loved ones during this difficult
time."
Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Minister Diana McQueen added her condolences.
"My heart goes out to the families of both individuals, including their work families who now grieve for their
colleagues," the statement said.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/people+dead+helicopter+crashes+north+Fort+McMurray/8451759/story.html
Back to Top
Military helicopter makes emergency landing near Medford, NJ school
A military helicopter made an emergency landing behind an elementary school in Medford, New Jersey Wednesday
morning.
Shortly after 11:00 a.m. Medford Police responded to the Chairville Elementary School for a report of a military
helicopter making an emergency landing in a baseball field between the school and the campus of the Burlington
County Institute of Technology-Medford along Chairville Road.
According to authorities, the pilot experienced a mechanic problem and set the helicopter down safely.
They are now awaiting delivery of a part to fix the issue.
Police say the helicopter, a CH-46 Sea Knight model, was en route from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and
heading south for Quantico, Virginia.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=9119567
Back to Top
Police pilot describes being blinded in cockpit
A Phoenix man faces charges of endangerment after police say he shined a laser pointer into a police helicopter
with three officers inside.
Suspect Ralph Rubi was arrested at his home on Sheridan Street Tuesday. Police say his laser pointer was found
inside his home.
Phoenix police pilot John Meche wasn't a victim in this latest case, but he knows the feeling all too well.
"The entire cockpit is lit up," said Officer Meche. "You cannot see anything while it's coming through."
He describes it as disorienting, painful, highly dangerous, and criminal.
"You will go to jail," said Meche, especially if you target a police helicopter, as in Tuesday's case.
"Why would you want to endanger the lives of the people trying to help you and people on the ground?" asked
Meche.
It's a problem that's been on the rise in recent years. Meche told 3TV it's not just law enforcement being targeted
but commercial aircraft as well.
"We get reports from Sky Harbor nightly that the jetliners are being hit," said Meche. "Believe it or not, it makes it
up into those cockpits when they're at 5 or 6,000 feet, it does the exact same things to those crews, but now, you
have how many passengers on board?"
In 2011, the FAA imposed civil penalties against anyone who points a laser into an aircraft, which can result in
hefty fines. That's in addition to state laws making it illegal.
http://www.azfamily.com/news/Police-pilot-describes-being-blinded-in-cockpit-209462921.html
Back to Top
Helicopter crash survivor taken off promotion list
The sole survivor of a deadly 2010 Coast Guard helicopter crash has been removed from the promotion list, a
decision his attorney said could end Lt. Lance Leone's military career.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano last week agreed with the findings of a special board in
removing Leone from the list.
Leone attorney John Smith told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Leone would try to get on the list again
this summer and appeal a derogatory report in his personnel file cited as a factor in the decision to remove Leone
from the list during the last go-round. Smith said if Leone's passed over again and an appeal to have the report
struck from his record is unsuccessful, Leone's Coast Guard career will be over. "Because at this level, it's up or
out," Smith said.
"He is distraught, there is no doubt," Smith said of Leone. "I have not seen him like this."
Leone was the co-pilot of a helicopter flying from Astoria, Ore., to the crew's base in Sitka, Alaska, when it hit an
unmarked span of low-hanging wires maintained by the Coast Guard and crashed off the Washington coast in July
2010. Killed in the crash were pilot Sean Krueger and crewmen Brett Banks and Adam C. Hoke.
Leone, who during his career earned Coast Guard awards and accolades, was accused of not actively navigating or
challenging Krueger's decision to drop in altitude seconds before the helicopter hit the wires. Charges against
Leone, including negligent homicide, were dropped in line with the recommendations of an investigating officer who
oversaw a 2011 military hearing in the case. The Coast Guard's Alaska commander later included in Leone's
personnel file his finding that Leone's actions directly contributed to the deaths of his colleagues and destruction of
the aircraft.
A special board that reviewed Leone's case last November found notwithstanding his "strong performance" during
his time in service, his performance and conduct surrounding the crash were deemed grounds for removal from the
promotion list. The board, noting the negative personnel report, said Leone "should have been more assertive in
ensuring the safe operation of the aircraft" in accordance with policy.
The Coast Guard's commandant also recommended to Napolitano that Leone be removed.
Smith sees what's happened to Leone as a "vindictive campaign to find a scapegoat." He said in an email that the
Coast Guard's final report on the crashed "skewed the facts" and the Coast Guard failed to properly mark the wires
hit by the helicopter.
The Coast Guard's final report found lack of communication and Krueger and Leone's failure to properly perform
their duties contributed to the crash. It found a lack of adequate markings on the wires, the site of at least two
other accidents, may have contributed to the 2010 crash.
Leone was reassigned to San Antonio, where Smith said he has served as a Coast Guard liaison to a military health
system.
Smith said Leone is doing well in his new post, and he expects Leone's commanders to recommend him for
promotion during the next round this summer. He said the odds of success are long.
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2021078853_apakhelicoptercrashpromotion1stldwritethru.html
Back to Top
Back to Top
Free airport therapy has a cold nose, wagging tail
There's a new breed of airport dog. They aren't looking for drugs or bombs; they are looking for people who need a
buddy, a belly to rub or a paw to shake.
"His job is to be touched," volunteer Kyra Hubis said about Henry James, her 5-year-old golden retriever that
works a few hours a week at the San Jose, Calif., airport. "I am just standing there with him. They are talking to
him. If I need to answer for him, I do. But I am at the end of his leash, he's not at the end of mine."
Mineta San Josť International Airport is widely credited with introducing the first airport-therapy dog in the days
after Sept. 11, 2001, when flights were grounded, passengers were stranded and reaching friends and relatives in
the East was nearly impossible. Passengers were anxious and afraid.
Enter Orion, owned by a volunteer airport chaplain who got permission to bring the dog to work. He made such a
difference that San Jose formalized the program and now has nine dogs. Miami International Airport joined the
program with one and Los Angeles International Airport has 30 and is hoping to expand.
The dogs are intended to take the stress out of travel - the crowds, long lines and terrorism concerns.
You never know why people are flying, said Heidi Huebner, director of volunteers at LAX, Los Angeles International,
which launched Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUPs) in April. Travelers might be in town for a vacation, a funeral, to
visit a sick relative or to attend a business meeting.
"You can literally feel the stress levels drop, people start smiling, strangers start talking to each other and
everybody walks away feeling really, really good," Huebner said.
Dogs have to be healthy, skilled, stable, well-mannered and able to work on a slack 4-foot leash, said Billie Smith,
executive director of Wyoming-based Therapy Dogs, which certifies the LAX animals. They have to be comfortable
with crowds, sounds, smells and they need to pass through security like all airport workers.
Handlers are taught to watch for people who fear or dislike dogs or those who might have allergies. In most cases,
people approach the dogs, identifiable by the vests or bandannas they wear.
Los Angeles' dogs, are as varied as its airport passengers. There's a long-haired Dalmatian, a Lab-pointer mix, a
field spaniel, a poodle, three Australian labradoodles, a Doberman and a 150-pound Irish wolfhound named Finn
who has two tricks.
"He looks you in the eye and lays down on the job," said owner Brian Valente. "When I'm around Finn, it makes me
feel like things are OK. When Finn's around other people, they are OK. It's almost instant, even if just for a
moment," Valente said.
Miami's sole dog, Casey, a 4-year-old golden retriever, is a star. She has her own website, fan mail, business cards
and a role on "Airport 24/7: Miami," a weekly reality show on the Travel Channel.
"Casey is so pure and genuine," said Dickie Davis, director of terminal operations and customer service. "She's not
asking for anything or selling anything. She is just a love magnet."
When Claudia McCaskill's family recently flew home from vacation in Brazil she requested Casey meet the plane to
greet her 5-year-old daughter, Carina, who is autistic. She knew Carina would be low on energy and patience and
they still had a 2.5-hour drive home to St. Lucie, Fla.
Casey and handler Liz Miller were there with a gift basket, and Carina fell in love with the dog.
"Thank you for visiting us at the airport so I would be happy," Carina said in a video the family made for Casey.
Carina wants to go back and see Casey again.
http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2021083356_airportdogsxml.html
Back to Top
TSA finds record 65 weapons on U.S. airport passengers last week
Airport security officers uncovered a record 65 firearms on passengers boarding planes last week, surpassing the
previous record high of 50 guns.
The Transportation Security Administration reported 54 of the guns found at airport security checkpoints around
the country were loaded and another 19 had rounds chambered.
The guns ranged from a snub-nosed revolver uncovered at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, to a 9-millimeter
handgun at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and a musket at Orlando International Airport. The guns were
uncovered from May 17 to May 23, the TSA said.
Passengers are allowed to travel with guns under certain conditions, such as packing the weapon in a checked
luggage and declaring it to the airline. When TSA officers uncover guns on passengers or in their carry-on bags,
they contact local authorities to investigate.
A passenger at Salt Lake City International Airport was arrested by local police last week after TSA agents
discovered a loaded .22 caliber gun strapped to the flier's prosthetic leg. The gun was detected by a full-body
scanner.
In addition to the guns, TSA reported it had uncovered an assortment of other weapons, including throwing knives,
inert hand grenades and stun guns.
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-tsa-record-weapons-20130529,0,477251.story
Curt Lewis